Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy

Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy The Udall Center (at the Univ. of AZ) connects academic research to decision-making regarding enviro

๐Ÿ™Œ  Our PFAS events were a huge success! The end of September was jam-packed at the UC thanks to our two-day interdiscipl...
10/06/2026

๐Ÿ™Œ Our PFAS events were a huge success!

The end of September was jam-packed at the UC thanks to our two-day interdisciplinary workshop on moving PFAS research forward at U of A and beyond, and our public expert panel on the state of PFAS and related policies in Arizona.

Dozens of experts and community members were present for the two events, demonstrating a growing interest in our community for this increasingly prevalent pollutant that is in our air, water, soil, and the blood of nearly every person on the planet.

๐Ÿ”— Check out our wrap story at the link below!

https://udallcenter.arizona.edu/news/two-day-workshop-invites-scholars-and-community-leaders-chart-course-pfas-research-regulation?publication=20261006&utm_campaign=Udall+Center+for+Studies+in+Public+Policy&utm_content=%F0%9F%99%8C++Our+PFAS+events+were+&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

๐ŸŒŸ What a great evening celebrating the 2026โ€“27 Udall Center Fellows! This yearโ€™s UC Fellows gathered on the ENR2 rooftop...
10/02/2026

๐ŸŒŸ What a great evening celebrating the 2026โ€“27 Udall Center Fellows!

This yearโ€™s UC Fellows gathered on the ENR2 rooftop for a reception and an opportunity to share their research projects with colleagues from across the University of Arizona.

We were pleased to welcome department and program leaders from Engineering, the Arizona Institute for Resilience, BIO5, and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences to that event, as well!

A special thank you to Edella Schlager, a two-time Udall Center Fellow and Professor in the School of Government and Public Policy, who introduced our Fellows and served as the faculty lead for the UC Fellows program this year.

We also enjoyed a special preview from Ricardo Valerdi of his upcoming book, โ€˜The Five-Tool Teamโ€™, which was released by Regalo Press on September 29th! ๐Ÿ“š

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this yearโ€™s Fellows and the collaborative work that makes the UC Fellows Program so special. ๐ŸŒต

๐Ÿ”—Learn more about this yearโ€™s cohort at the link below!

https://udallcenter.arizona.edu/programs-projects/udall-center-fellows-program?publication=20261002&utm_campaign=Udall+Center+for+Studies+in+Public+Policy&utm_content=%F0%9F%8C%9F+What+a+great+evening+c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Application deadline extended!There's still time to apply for the first-ever DESERT-PFAS Student Grand Challenge!๐ŸซจJunior...
10/01/2026

Application deadline extended!

There's still time to apply for the first-ever DESERT-PFAS Student Grand Challenge!๐Ÿซจ

Junior, senior, and graduate students at U of A are invited to apply to solve real-world challenges relating to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as โ€œforever chemicals,โ€ taking place in our Sonoran Desert community.

Selected students will work with UA faculty and professional mentors during the fall 2026 and spring 2027 semesters to tackle real environmental challenges related to PFAS and report on their findings and progress.

Partners include:

๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ผ Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
๐Ÿšฐ Tucson Water
๐ŸŒต Santa Cruz County Community Development Department
๐Ÿœ๏ธ Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Build your professional training and network, receive mentorship in solving cutting-edge problems, meet milestones you set with your teammates and mentors, receive a $1,000 award per person at the end of the program!

โš ๏ธ Applications are due Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM! โš ๏ธ

APPLY TODAY!

๐Ÿ”—Details and application here: https://udallcenter.arizona.edu/student-challenge?publication=20261001&utm_campaign=Udall+Center+for+Studies+in+Public+Policy&utm_content=Application+deadline+exte&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

๐ŸŒฑ Welcome to the Udall Center, Dr. Edauri Navarro Pรฉrez! Weโ€™re excited to welcome Edauri as a Postdoctoral Scholar in En...
09/30/2026

๐ŸŒฑ Welcome to the Udall Center, Dr. Edauri Navarro Pรฉrez!

Weโ€™re excited to welcome Edauri as a Postdoctoral Scholar in Environmental Policy Programs at the Udall Center in partnership with the new Lovejoy Center.

As a Boricua ecologist, Edauriโ€™s work brings together environmental science, community engagement, and relational approaches to knowledge. Guided by cultural sustaining practices, Dr. Navarro Pรฉrez approaches science as a relational practice grounded in collaboration, reciprocity, and care.

Edauri earned her PhD in Environmental Life Sciences from Arizona State University, where her research focused on root functional traits and how plants respond to restoration treatments. ๐ŸŒฟ

Weโ€™re thrilled to have Edauri join the Udall Center community and look forward to the perspectives and research sheโ€™ll bring to our work! ๐ŸŒŽ

09/30/2026

Today we honor the survivors of Indigenous boarding schools.

It all began with one young woman's brand new orange shirt being taken away from her on her first day of Indian residential school.

Wearing orange on September 30 is a way to spread awareness and show solidarity with boarding school survivors, their families, and the communities they have impacted for generations.

๐Ÿ”—Learn more about here: https://orangeshirtday.org/

๐ŸŽ“ Meet the 2026โ€“27 Moโ€™s Policy Scholars! Weโ€™re excited to welcome this yearโ€™s cohort of eight talented U of A undergrads...
09/29/2026

๐ŸŽ“ Meet the 2026โ€“27 Moโ€™s Policy Scholars!

Weโ€™re excited to welcome this yearโ€™s cohort of eight talented U of A undergrads who will bring fresh perspectives, new ideas, and a commitment to public policy to the Udall Center.

Through the Moโ€™s Policy Scholars program, students have the opportunity to engage with important policy issues, deepen their research and leadership skills, and contribute to meaningful conversations about the challenges facing society today.

This 14-week program gives selected students the opportunity to work directly with faculty research mentors on active research projects.

Join us in welcoming the fourth cohort of Moโ€™s Policy Scholars at the Udall Center! ๐ŸŒต๐Ÿ“š

๐Ÿ”— Learn more about this yearโ€™s scholars at the link below!
https://udallcenter.arizona.edu/news/introducing-2026-27-mos-policy-scholars?publication=20260929&utm_campaign=Udall+Center+for+Studies+in+Public+Policy&utm_content=%F0%9F%8E%93+Meet+the+2026%E2%80%9327+Mo%E2%80%99s+&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

๐—ข๐—ป๐—น๐˜† ๐—ง๐—ช๐—ข ๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€ ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ณ๐˜โ€ฆ โœŒ๏ธ โ€ฆ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐——๐—˜๐—ฆ๐—˜๐—ฅ๐—ง-๐—ฃ๐—™๐—”๐—ฆ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ฒ!If you are a U of A graduate student, junio...
09/28/2026

๐—ข๐—ป๐—น๐˜† ๐—ง๐—ช๐—ข ๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€ ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ณ๐˜โ€ฆ โœŒ๏ธ

โ€ฆ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐——๐—˜๐—ฆ๐—˜๐—ฅ๐—ง-๐—ฃ๐—™๐—”๐—ฆ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ฒ!

If you are a U of A graduate student, junior, or senior interested in taking on one of todayโ€™s biggest environmental challenges, then you should apply to join your fellow U of A students, researchers, and environmental professionals to explore the impacts and challenges associated with PFAS, also known as โ€œforever chemicalsโ€, right here in Southern Arizona!

During the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters, you will work alongside faculty mentors and professionals from Tucson Water; Haley & Aldrich, Inc. environmental consultants; the Santa Cruz County Office of Community Development; and/or the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

You will get:

- Hands-on research experience
- Real-world professional guidance
- Valuable networking opportunities
- A chance to develop and present your ideas
- Stronger research and problem-solving skills
- $๐Ÿญ,๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ ๐˜‚๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ณ๐˜‚๐—น ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป

Applications are due Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

๐Ÿ”— Learn more and apply at the link below ๐Ÿœ๏ธ

https://udallcenter.arizona.edu/desert-pfas-student-grand-challenge

๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ’งWater connects communities, institutions, and countries   Save the date for the binational event Bridges over water be...
09/25/2026

๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ’งWater connects communities, institutions, and countries

Save the date for the binational event Bridges over water between Mexico and the United States, a meeting created to promote binational dialogue, strengthen collaboration, and inspire cross border solutions.

๐Ÿ“… October 20โ€“21, 2026

๐Ÿ“ Museo de Historia Mexicana Auditorium, Monterrey, Nuevo Leรณn

Join us as we build new bridges through water!

UC Director and water policy expert Andrea K. Gerlak will be on hand as a featured presenter.

๐Ÿ”— Details and registration here: https://www.binationalwaters.org/event/bridges-over-water-between-mexico-and-the-united-states-cross-border-solutions/




Udall Center Fellowship โžก๏ธ new book on leadership! Congratulations to Ricardo Valerdi, Department Head of the U of A Sys...
09/24/2026

Udall Center Fellowship โžก๏ธ new book on leadership!

Congratulations to Ricardo Valerdi, Department Head of the U of A Systems and Industrial Engineering program and 2021-22 Udall Center Fellow, on his new book, โ€œThe Five Tool Team,โ€ which comes out on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

A lifelong sports fan and current U of A Faculty Athletics Representative, Valerdi draws on his experience as an engineer, scholar, and consultant for Major League Baseball teams, SpaceX, the US Army, and more to help current and aspiring leaders make better decisions and build stronger teams.

We sat down with Valerdi recently to talk about his new title and, just like his new book, the insights gleaned from conversation did not disappoint!

๐Ÿ”— Read more about โ€œThe Five Tool Teamโ€ at the link below!
https://udallcenter.arizona.edu/news/new-book-arizona-engineering-professor-ricardo-valerdi-teaches-better-decision-making?publication=20260924&utm_campaign=Udall+Center+for+Studies+in+Public+Policy&utm_content=Udall+Center+Fellowship+%E2%9E%A1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

๐—”๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐——๐—˜๐—ฆ๐—˜๐—ฅ๐—ง-๐—ฃ๐—™๐—”๐—ฆ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐˜†! ๐ŸŒต๐Ÿ“ฃ Calling all U of A graduate students, juniors & seniors! Int...
09/23/2026

๐—”๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐——๐—˜๐—ฆ๐—˜๐—ฅ๐—ง-๐—ฃ๐—™๐—”๐—ฆ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐˜†! ๐ŸŒต

๐Ÿ“ฃ Calling all U of A graduate students, juniors & seniors!

Interested in tackling one of todayโ€™s biggest environmental challenges? Join fellow U of A students, researchers, and environmental professionals to explore the impacts and challenges associated with PFAS, also known as โ€œforever chemicalsโ€, right here in Southern Arizona.

During the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters, students will work alongside faculty mentors and professionals from Tucson Water; Haley & Aldrich, Inc. environmental consultants; the Santa Cruz County Office of Community Development; and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

Participants will gain...
- Hands-on research experience
- Real-world professional guidance
- Valuable networking opportunities
- A chance to develop and present your ideas
- Stronger research and problem-solving skills
- $๐Ÿญ,๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ ๐˜‚๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ณ๐˜‚๐—น ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป

Apply by next week, September 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.!

๐Ÿ”— Learn more and apply at the link below!

https://udallcenter.arizona.edu/programs-projects/desertpfas/desert-pfas-student-grand-challenge

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